Apparatus for constructing buildings having several storeys



Sept 22 1970 s. F. HUBER 3,529,387

APYARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS HAvING SEVERAL STOREYS Filed April 25. 1968 2 Sheets-*Sheet f'gJ 5 W USM w h z l' NM' :gi A Y NVENTOR GOTTLIEB F Z HUB G. F. HUBER APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS HAVING SEVERAL STCREYS Filed April 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR GOTTLIEB FRITZ HUBER GLLJM-fvbsw United States Patent O 3,529,387 APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS HAVING SEVERAL STOREYS Gottlieb Fritz Huber, 3 Rue Denfert-Rochereau, Palaibeau, France Filed Apr. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 724,014 Claims priority, application France, Apr. 25, 1967, 104,144 Int. Cl. E04b 1/35 U.S. Cl. 52--126 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A construction process wherein slabs of concrete forming the fioors of the building to be erected are piled at the base of each section formed within a previously pro vided framework, and are then raised individually to the levels of the different floors to be attached to the framework, .beginning with the highest slab. The process is particularly characterized in that several openings (for example, four) are provided in each slab and are adapted to receive a scaffolding part connected to a rising device (such as a jack, puller or the like), by means of which the slab can be raised and lowered at will into a specific enclosure of the framework which has been previously provided. Each slab is raised to a level about two meters above the upper surface of the slab placed on top of a pile of Prefabricated slabs or above the ground when it is the last slab of the pile. Suspension parts or slings are fixed to the above-mentioned scaffolding parts under the slab. These suspension elements are fixed to a movable scaffolding which is thus connected to the slab and which will permit operators to work above or below the slab by passing through openings provided during the casting of the slalb and supplied with chains, staircases and the like. Then the slab and the scaffolding which is connected therewith are raised to a level located about one meter above the lever at which the slab must be definitely fixed. The elements necessary to support the slab and supported by the framework of the construction are placed in their proper locations or brought to effective condition. Then the slab is lowered to its definite level. All connections and replacements of the slab are carried out. The connecting elements are removed from the slab. Then the` scaffolding is moved to a lower level, is dismounted and separated from these connecting elements. The connecting elements are then adapted to an upper slab, whereupon all the operations are repeated until all the slabs are placed in their definitive positions in the specific cells of the framework.

This invention relates to a process for constructing buildings having several fioors and to means for carrying out this process.

In the construction of buildings having several iioors, certain process are being used more and more, due to the speed with which they facilitate the construction of the buildings. Specifically, they are the processes wherein slabs are used which later form the floors of the different storeys. These slabs are made on location or in a workshop and they are initially piled up upon the ground opposite the compartment or cellules dividing the building. Then the slabs are raised one lby one by suitable raising devices to the levels which they will occupy when the building is finished.

Processes are thus known wherein, during the construction of a building having several storeys, a framework is made havin-g the shape of a cage the height of which corresponds to that of the building being built and a horizontal section of which corresponds to the total or 3,529,387 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 rice to a part thereof which is still devoid of fiooring. This ooring is made in the form of slabs which are initially stacked at the base of the building being constructed and which are then moved by suitable elevating devices to the required level in the framework and are fixed in the farmework one after the other in the order reversed to the direction'of the vertical transportation of the slabs in the framework.

In one of these processes the framework of the building, which may be of metal, concrete, a mixture etc., ser-ves as a mounting scaffolding or as a support for the raising equipment used to raise from the ground successively the floors or the floor parts of the various storeys to their final positions and beginning with the uppermost storey. Then each storey is provided with building accessories or superstructures which are necessary to support various accessories, such as heating devices and sanitary devices.

All these processes used in prior art have the same difficulty, namely, that of providing a connection between the framework and the slabs constituting the floors fixed along certain parts of the framework are concerned. Actually it is very difficult to provide various connections from the upper surface of the lboards and to carry out this work properly, it is necessary to provide inner scaffoldings resting upon slabs provisionally lmounted upon the framework by fixing pieces, such as hooks or metal pieces the action of which must be reinforced rby brackets or similar members which can be placed only below the slabs.

An object of the present invention is to improve these construction processes by providing a much easier access to the lower surface of the slabs despite their arrangement upon the framework and by providing various parts and devices assuring all the desired connections.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

The process of the present invention is particularly characterized in that several openings (for example, four) are provided in each slab and are adapted to receive a scaffolding part conected to a rising device (such as a jack, puller or the like), by means of which the slab can be raised and lowered at will into a specific enclosure of the framework which has been previously provided. Each slab is raised to a level about two meters above the upper surface of the slab placed on top of a pile of prefabricated slabs or above the ground when it is the last slab of the pile. Suspension parts or slings are fixed to the abovementioned scaffolding parts under the sla-b. T hese suspension elements are fixed to a movable scaffolding which is thus connected to the slab and which will permit operators to work above or below the slab by passing through openings provided during the casting of the slab and supplied with chains, staircases and the like. Then the slab and the scaffolding which is connected therewith are raised to a level located about one meter above the level at which the slab must be definitely fixed. The elements necessary to support the slab and supported by the framework of the construction are placed in their proper locations or brought to effective condition. Then the slab is lowered to its definite level. All connections and replacements of the slab are carried out. The connecting elements are removed from the slab. Then the scaffolding is moved to a lower level, is dismounted and separated from these connecting elements. The connecting elements are then adapted to an upper slab, whereupon all the slabs are placed in their definiti-ve positions in the specific cells of the framework.

According to a device of the present invention used to carry out the described process, each of the scaffolding parts is formed by a main sleeve provided with inner screw threads and having arms embedded into the concrete of the slab. There is also provided an intermediary sleeve having inner and outer screw threads so that it can be screwed into the main sleeve and to receive the threaded end of a beam connected to a raising apparatus, such as a jack, a lifter or the like. This end of the beam has also inner screw threads to provide connection to one of the suspension rods of the movable scaffolding. The intermediate sleeve is made of two pieces to permit the separation of the leverage rod from the main sleeve, thus merely leaving a connection between the rod and the suspension beam of the scaffolding. This beam can be moved then to a lower level and completely removed after the work of fixing and connecting each slab to the framework of the building has been completed.

According to a different embodiment of the device of the present invention, the scaffolding parts are each constituted by an anchor having arms pivoted upon a common axle and capa-ble of assuming a vertical position to permit the passage into one of the openings of the slab, as well as a horizontal position in which they may support the slab, each of the arms having flanges used for attaching cables two of which are located upon the same side of the axle, the flange closest to the axle receiving a closed end of one of the raising cables, while the more remote flange receives the end of the cable carrying the scaffolding.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a section through a device of the present invention showing the raising and the suspension means, the anchorage being ready to carry a slab and the moving scaffold.

FIG. 2 is a section illustrating the iirst phase of the adaption of the material to a slab.

FIG. 3 illustrates in section the fixing of the leverage beam in a sleeve of the scaffold.

FIG. 4 shows in section another embodiment of the present invention the raising means being shown in the active suspension position.

FIG. 5 shows the same embodiment in section in a position permitting free passage along the slab.

FIG. 6 is a section along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

The lirst embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 illustrates the material as including a sleeve 1 provided with inner screw threads and having arms 2 embedded in the slab 3 during its casting.

An intermediary sleeve consisting of two shells 4 and 4 is screwed into the sleeve 1 and is provided with inner as well as outer screw threads so that it can receive the threaded end 5 of a leverage beam 6 connected to the piston of a hydraulic lifting jack or any other suitable raising device (not shown).

The end 5 of the beam 6 is also provided with inner screw threads and thus can extend downwardly on the opposite side of the slab 3 by means of a rod 7 for scaffold suspension, which has a threaded end.

The operation of this device is a simple one.

Each slab 3 is provided during its casting with four sleeves 1 which are placed in alignment, which should be as precise as possible, with the sleeves of the other slabs. Thus it is easy to raise or to lower them by beams 6 connected to the jacks (not shown). Obviously, the number of the sleeves depends upon the size of the slabs ybeing used.

For raising purposes, each sleeve 1 carries a threaded sleeve of two parts 4 and 4 as well as the end 5 of the beam 6 located in the last-mentioned sleeve.

Thus the slab 3 can be raised by four jacks to a height of two meters above the other upper pile of slabs and by being screwed into the ends of Ibeams 6 to the suspension rods 7 of which a moving scaffolding is fastened.

The slab 3 is then raised with the scaffolding up to a level upon which the slab will be definitely fixed in the framework of the construction.

Thus the workers can be assured of the fixing of the slab in the framework due to the provision of the proper supporting pieces located therein.

The slab is then lowered until it is placed upon the above-mentioned supporting pieces and then the workers can proceed with the required connections and fillings, moving from one part of the slab to another part through openings provided therein and having cables, stairs etc.

When the slab has lbeen placed in the proper position, each sleeve portion 4 and 4' can be unscrewed by causing them to rise along the 4beam 6 so as to free them from the sleeve 1. At the end of the unscrewing, the sleeve halves are separated and the beam 6 which still carries the scaffolding, can slide freely in the sleeve 1.

After the four sleeves 4, 4 have been unscrewed, the scaffolding can be moved downwardly to the base of the construction and it can be separated then from the beams which support it.

The beams can be fixed then in a higher slab of the pile by the sleeves 4, 4' threaded into the sleeves 1 of this second slab which can then be raised to the extent of two meters above the following slab so as to provide suicient space for inserting a scaffolding under this second slab and for providing facilities for operations similar to those carried out for the first slab.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. In this construction the slabs 3 are raised by cables 8 and 8 carried =by hoists or similar devices.

The cables 8 and 8 are connected with an anchor having two arms 9 and 9 which pivot upon a common axle 10 carried by discs 11 and 11 (FIG. 6). Flanges 12 and 12 are fixed to the arms 9 and 9 and are used to hold the cables. Other flanges 13 and 13 fixed to the arms 9 and 9 are used to receive the ends of two cables 14 and 14 from which the scaffolding is suspended,

The braces 15 and 15 which join the discs 11 and 11 limit the lowering of the arms 9 and 9' to a horizontal positon.

Openings 16 provided in the slab have fittings 17 embedded in the concrete. The arms 9 and 9 can rest under the upper wings of these fittings in their horizontal positions so as to raise the slab.

FIG. 4 shows how the slab can be iixed to the anchor and pulled by the cables 8 and 8 when the arms 9 and 9 of the anchor are horizontal. On the contrary, when these arms are in their vertical position shown in FIG. 5, they can extend freely into the opening 16 of the slab. The cables 8 and 8 can then move downwardly along with the scaifolding suspended by the cables 14 and 14. This downward movement is carried out easily as soon as the slab is fixed and does not exert any weight upon the arms 9 and 9 which can then move by the force of the pull exerted by the scaffolding suspended upon anges 13 and 13'.

The operations are carried out as in the rst embodiment, since it suffices to unhook the cables 14 and 14 so as to free the scaffolding.

It is apparent that the examples described above have been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that they are subject to many variations and modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. In the construction of a multistoried building, a concrete slab comprising at least one opening, a sleeve fixed in said opening, arms connected with the sleeve and embedded in the slab, said sleeve having inner screw threads, slab raising means comprising another sleeve consisting of two pieces' and having outer screw threads meshing with the screw threads of the first-mentioned sleeve and inner screw threads, and a slab raising hollow rod having inner and outer screw threads, the outer screw threads of said rod meshing with the inner screw threads of the second-mentioned sleeve, said rod extending above said slab, and scaffold carrying means comprising a scaffold carrying rod having outer screw threads meshing with the inner screw threads of the first-mentioned rod, the second-mentioned rod extending below said slab.

2. In the construction of a multistoried building, a concrete slab comprising at least one opening, an axle extending through said opening, an anchor having two arms pivotally mounted upon said axle and swingable to a vertical position providing access to the opening and to a horizontal slab carrying position, two separate flanges carried upon each side of each of said arms, slab raising means comprisng two slab raising cables having loops engaging anges on opposite sides of said arms and extending above said slab, and scaffold carrying means comprising two scaold carrying cables having loops en- 6 gaging other flanges on opposite sides of said arms and extending below the slab.

3. A slab in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flanges carrying the loops of the slab raising cables are located closer to said axle than the flanges carrying the loops of the scaffold carrying cables.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1() 2,686,420 8/1954 Youtz 52-126 3,065,573 11/1962 Goldberg 52-126 3,096,076 7/1963 Walli 52-126 X 3,279,142 10/1966 Entwistle 52-745 3,308,587 3/1967 Gilroy et al. 52-126 15 3,363,393 1/1968 Von Heidenstam 52-745 PRICE C. FAW, JR., Primary Examiner 

